What Makes a Bad Father?

A bad father is a man who is not present in a child's life or who is in the child's life but is a bad influence. A bad father neglects his responsibilities to his family on many levels. He fails to provide a good masculine role model for his sons or a loving husband model for his daughters.

In the view of Flora Richards-Gustafson in the Global Post, a bad parent does not give his child or children unconditional love, independence, flexibility or a good example to follow. Bad fathers can, by their influence, lead children to adopt some of the same negative traits and behaviors. If a father is abusive, violent, condescending or controlling, then he can damage his children's views of relationships and of the people around them.

A father who does not contribute to family life can be a burden rather than a necessary support. If he does not stand up for his family and protect them from harm, he is neglecting his primary duties. Bad fathers often create strained relationships with their children by providing too little affection and love, or by being otherwise absent from the children's lives. A closed-minded, strict parent who refuses to listen to his child is encouraging resentment of authority in that child. On the other hand, a father who is self-centered and a poor disciplinarian gives his child less respect for adults in general. Being a good father is not easy; it requires love, self-discipline and selflessness. Good fathers do not give in to their bad impulses and try to do the best they can for their families.